Thursday, October 4, 2012

I was asked for some ideas on making the beaded foot sandles so here are some

Here are a couple foot jewelry patterns

Caribbean Foot JewelryBe cool on hot days at the beach! This pretty foot jewelry is all the rage.
You Need:
About 20 grams of Small Glass Beads 4mm Gold or Silver Beads Beading Elastic White Glue Instructions:
Cut a 30" length of elastic. Stiffen ends with white glue. String about 12 glass beads on the elastic to the center of the cord. Make sure you have enough to go around your second toe. Push both ends of the elastic through a 4mm bead making a loop for your toe. String about 1" of beads on each end making sure they are even in length. Push both ends of the elastic through a 4mm bead. String another 1" of beads on each end. Push both ends of the elastic through another 4mm bead. String another 1" of beads on each end. Push both ends of the elastic through a final 4mm bead. Add glass beads to both ends until you have enough to go around your ankle. Tie off with a double knot and trim

another pattern here

Toe Ring and Matching Ankle Bracelet with NameSummer feet look so pretty adorned with our toe ring and ankle bracelet. Add your name for a special piece of jewelry.
You Need:
4mm Faceted Beads 4mm Gold or Silver Beads Beading Elastic Alphabet Beads White Glue Instructions:
For ankle bracelet: Cut a 18" length of elastic. Double knot one end. Stiffen the other end with white glue. Select two or more colors of faceted beads. String faceted beads on the elastic alternating with a gold or silver bead. String about 3" and begin beading the name with a silver or gold bead between each letter. Continue until you have a long enough string to fit around your ankle. Tie off with a double knot. Trim close to knot.
For toe ring: Cut a 6" length of elastic. Double knot one end. Stiffen the other end with white glue. Select two or more colors of faceted beads. String faceted beads on the elastic alternating with a gold or silver bead. Continue until you have a long enough string to fit around your toe. Tie off with a double knot. Trim close to knot.

One of my least favorite things in the world to do is clean my stove...I know, kind of lame. It's not that I mind cleaning it. I just can't ever seem to get it clean enough. It makes me nuts! Well, now I have it figured out...I was doing it all wrong. Glass spray alone just isn't enough.

Is this what your stovetop looks like up close? Don't be ashamed...this is AFTER I had cleaned it. Those are the hard cooked on bits that are almost impossible to get off of your stove. I say almost, because honestly, it isn't that hard. All you need is a little baking soda!

Sprinkle some baking soda on your stovetop. Then grab a scrubber and lightly wet it. Don't get it too wet, make sure to wring it out. Now start scrubbing the baking soda over the stains.

A paste will form, and you just keep scrubbing those spots. Once you think they are all gone, wipe clean with a paper towel or clean soft cloth. If you like, spray with glass cleaner and wipe clean for a little shine.

Now your stovetop should be nice and clean!!! Seriously...wasn't that easy and inexpensive?

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Hair Growth Treatments are one of the best ways to prevent thinning, shedding, breakage, ensure optimal hair growth and prevent potential hair loss. But, aren’t hair growth treatments and products that promote fast growth expensive? Well, yes, but you don’t have to buy them! In fact, there are a lot of awesome hair growth treatments you can make in your own kitchen using essential oils, herbs and even fruits and veggies! And these 7 hair growth treatments I’m going to discuss right now are definitely worth checking out:

1. Curry Leaves & Coconut Tonic

Praised and expensive, Indian hair is often said to be worth more than gold and, given the price range of most extensions, weaves and wigs not to mention the price of upkeep, it most certainly is! How can that be? Well, Indian ladies know the secret and it has everything to do with a plant most of put in food! Curry, that awesomely tasty spice, actually does wonders for hair growth so in order to experience the benefits of one of the best traditional hair growth treatments yourself, you’ll need to get fresh curry leaves and some coconut oil. Boil these two together until the black residue starts forming then harvest this residue and use twice a week to replenish your hair, help it grow faster and even fight gray hair!

Note: Use twice a week.

2. Castor Oil

Castor oil is one of my favorite hair growth treatments and I use it for everything from eyelashes to eyebrows! I’ve even used it to re grow a very thick section of my bangs that has been burned down completely! The oil itself is pretty greasy which means that you might want to dilute it to avoid too much hassle. Add it to your conditioner or mix with almond oil and massage into your scalp if you’re looking for an easy way to promote healthy hair growth or massage the castor oil alone and leave it overnight in case you’re dealing with some serious problems such as receding hairline, bald spots or thinning hair.

Note: Use as an intensive overnight treatment once a week to aid hair growth and nourish your hair and every to every second night in case you want thicker eyebrows or eyelashes.

3. Vinegar Rinse

Although it might seem harsh to treat your hair with something as acidic as vinegar, the truth is that hair really appreciates it due to its slightly acidic nature. Out hair’s pH varies from acidic 3,5 to neutral 5,5 which means that our alkaline hair care products tend to throw it off balance. Vinegar, in the other hand, helps hair restore its optimal pH value, it seals the cuticles making each strand shinier, stronger and less prone to breakage and it removes product buildups that literally suffocate the scalp and slow down normal hair growth. So, in order to help your hair really give its 100% in terms of both growth and quality, mix 1 part of vinegar and 2 parts of water and use this mixture as a final rinse.
Note: Use as a final rinse after shampooing.

4. Egg Yolk And Olive Oil Mask

Rich in proteins, vitamins and super- nurturing fatty acids, egg yolks won’t only make your hair softer, shinier and healthier but help you to grow it long as well. And, in order to get all the benefits egg yolks provide, simply mix 2 egg yolks with 2 tbsp of olive oil, dilute the mixture by adding 1/3 to 1/2 cup of water and then slowly and thoroughly massage this mask into your scalp. Give your hair and scalp 15 to 20 minutes to absorb all the needed nutrients and then rinse off.
Note: Use once or two times per month.

5. Burdock Root Oil Hair Growth Treatment

I’ve seen this prickly purplish flower many times before but I never knew it’s so jam-packed with nutrients and good for the hair! Can you believe burdock root contains calcium, potassium, iron, vitamins and many, many other precious stuff hair and body need to work like a finely tuned Swiss made clock? Well, I have a great homemade hair growth treatment for you today and I’m absolutely sure you’ll want to give it a try even if you have no growth-related problems! Why? Because it nurtures hair and helps battle some of the worst scalp problems such as inflammations, dandruff and skin conditions! So, mix one teaspoon of each rosemary, basil and lavender oil, then mix 3-5 drops of this mixture with 1 teaspoon of each Aloe Vera gel and burdock oil. Massage this mixture in your scalp, let it work its magic over the next couple of hours (the longer you leave it on, the better), then shampoo and style your hair as usual.
Note: Use at least once a week.

6. Leave – in Hair Growth Treatment with Rosemary

This powerful herb won’t only leave your hair heavenly soft but stimulate hair growth as well! It nurtures and strengthens the hair, it helps solve the problem of thinning hair and it stimulated the scalp which most certainly means that, if you decide to try this homemade treatment, you have nothing to lose! Brew a potion using 2 teaspoons of dry crushed rosemary leaves and 300mls of water then massage this mixture into your hair and scalp starting from the ends. Due to its non greasy, light texture the mixture doesn’t need to be rinsed out which means that you don’t have to wait until your hair is dirty to apply it.
Note: Use after shampooing.

7. Banana Mask

Bananas are a very rich source of potassium and vitamins A, E and C which makes them the perfect choice for homemade hair growth treatments. We all know our hair needs all of these to be healthy and grow strong but, because bananas are very rich in calories, we rarely allow ourselves to eat as much as we need. Well, here’s one very simple recipe that could and will help you enjoy fast-growing, long and healthy hair – instead of eating that last banana, mash it and massage it into your hair and scalp! It’s a piece of cake –just pick a soft, ripe one, mash it into a paste, then apply it on your head and cover with a plastic bag. Wrap a hot towel over your head for maximum results or, in case you are out of hot towels, use a hairdryer to help your hair quickly absorb all the nutrients.Reader tip: Make sure you smash the bananas really well since big chunks are hard to get out of your hair.
Note: Use once per week.

8. Coconut Oil And Avocado

Coconut oil and avocado is a great hair growth treatment for several reasons. It adds luster to your hair if it’s dry, it gets rid of flaking and dandruff, and it keeps your hair safe from the sun, which can be just as damaging to your hair as your skin. Just gently heat the coconut oil for about 10 seconds (on the stove or with an essential oil burner, not in the microwave!), then massage one tablespoon of it into your hair from the roots to the tips. After that, massage the avocado into just the tips of your hair. Leave this mixture on for 10 to 15, then use cool water to rinse it and shampoo.
Note: Use once a week.

9. Almond Oil

If you’re trying to grow out and strengthen your hair, almond oil is a simple but effective means to do it. Almond oil is helpful because it has so many healthy fatty acids, so it makes your hair soft while strengthening it all at the same time. All you have to do is take about a tablespoon – more or less depending on the length and thickness of your hair – and massage it into your scalp, down to the ends of your hair. Leave it on for 15 minutes or so, then follow the above procedure: rinse your hair with cool water and shampoo as usual.
Note: The number of applications depends on the overall condition of your hair. Use weekly for nourishment or twice a week in case of dry or damaged hair.

10. Nettle Hair Tonic

The nettle hair tonic recipe is probably one of the most complicated hair growth treatments on this list, but it’s also incredibly effective. You’ll need to begin with an ounce of nettle leaves, two cups of white wine vinegar and two cups of water (make sure you have lavender essential oil as well, you’ll need it later). Place all the ingredients in a pan making sure it’s non-reactive, let it simmer on the stove for two hours, then let the mixture cool before you strain it. Now’s the time for the lavender oil: once you’ve strained your nettle mixture, stir in about two drops of the oil, then decant everything in a bottle that has a tight lid. Remember to shake it well before use and massage the mixture into your scalp every other day (or night). This is especially helpful if you have thin hair that you’re trying to grow out and thicken.
Note: Use every other day.

11. Henna And Egg Shampoo

Thanks to all the protein in them, eggs are generally effective in hair grown and care. But let’s talk about this relatively easy to do treatment for which you’ll need natural henna powder, an egg, half a cup of lemon juice and a cup of water. Begin by mixing the henna, your egg, and the water together until you’ve formed a paste, then let it stand for an hour. Add lemon juice and blend it in until the mixture is smooth again, then apply the paste on your scalp and hair, from root to tips. Allow it to set in for about two hours, or until the mix is completely dry. Actually, if you want to leave it on during the night, that’s fine too. When you rinse it, just use cool or lukewarm water and gently work the mixture out of your hair.
Note: Use every or every other month.

12. Oatmeal Hair Mask

An oatmeal hair mask is the simplest hair treatment you can make, although you’ll need some milk and almond oil in addition to the oatmeal. Get half a cup of oats – or more, if your hair is long and/or thick – 1-2 tablespoons of almond oil, and a quarter to a half a cup of milk. Mix everything together, make sure your hair is tangle free and dry, and apply the hair mask from root to tip. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, rinse with warm water, and shampoo as usual.
Note: Use once a week or every other week.

13. Egg And Yogurt Mask

See? Eggs are great ingredients in a lot of hair growth treatments! This one is quite easy as well, requiring just one egg, a quarter cup of plain yogurt, and a quarter cup of mayonnaise. Begin by beating your egg until it looks foaming, then add in the yogurt and the mayo, blending until the mask looks smooth. Massage it into your scalp and your hair, until every inch is covered. You can use plastic or a shower cap on your head to keep from dripping, since you have to leave the mask in place for about an hour. When you rinse, use cool water and a very mild shampoo.
Note: Use once a week for best results.

14. Onion Juice And Honey Hair Growth Treatment

This sounds odd, but it’s really helpful if your hair is thinning or if you’re losing it. Onions are very healthy for your hair, so remember that when you’re juicing your onion! You just need a small one, and don’t worry, the pungent aroma will be slightly improved by that dollop of honey you’ll add once it’s fully juiced. You can either apply the mixture all over your hair or just to the spots that look thin. Leave it on overnight, and try to avoid covering it (although you can cover your pillow). Just shampoo it out the next morning – that will get rid of the smell.
Note: Use at least once a week.

15. Coconut Oil And Lemon Juice

In addition to helping strengthen your hair so it will grow faster, this treatment gets rid of dandruff quite quickly. It’s simple too – just mix one part lemon juice with two parts coconut oil and massage it into your scalp. Leave it in your hair anywhere from 4 hours to overnight and gently rinse it out with cool water the next morning.
Note: Use this treatment at least once a week

16. Garlic And Chamomile Tea Mask

This seems like one of the more complicated hair growth treatments, but that’s only because it uses a lot of ingredients. You’ll need a tablespoon of garlic juice and three tablespoons of chamomile tea (or a tea bag, that works fine), along with a tablespoon of aloe vera gel and a tablespoon of honey, three cups of water, and one egg yolk. You can, of course, juice your garlic with a press – fun stuff! Begin by mixing the garlic juice with your honey, then place it in your fridge. Now, boil your water and the tea for about half an hour, stirring occasionally. While you let it cool, get your juice/honey mixture and stir in the egg yolk as well as the aloe. Massage this mask into your scalp and down to the ends of your hair, let it sit for 20 minutes, then wash it out using a gentle shampoo. After after that (okay, so this one is a little complicated!), rinse your hair with the chamomile, and let it stay in. If you have the stamina, you can use this treatment once a week!
Note: Use once a week.

17. Vitamin E Hair Growth Treatment

This treatment relies solely
on oils, so it’s easy to get together once you have all the ingredients. Have a bottle handy, and combine a quarter cup of vitamin E oil and a quarter cup of jojoba oil, then include 15 drops each of peppermint essential oil and rosemary essential oil. Cap your bottle tightly and shake the mixture. You can apply this treatment to your scalp every night. Protip: you can buy vitamin E capsules and either break them, press them, or piece them to get to the oil.
Note: Gently massage into your scalp every night

18. Essential Oils Recipe

There are actually lots of hair growth treatments that rely on essential oils. This one requires essential oils of thyme, rosemary, cedar, grapeseed, and jojoba. Mix two drops of the thyme, three drops of the rosemary, two drops of the cedar, an ounce of the grapeseed, and a tablespoon of the jojoba in a tight bottle or bowl. That way you can safely store it for later use. All you have to do is massage the mixture into your scalp every night.
Note: Gently massage into your scalp every night

19. Caffeine Shampoo

This growth treatment requires caffeine powder – you mix four teaspoons of it in eight ounces of shampoo. Basically, you can use this every day and you’ll see some serious growth. You can also mix the caffeine powder in a spray bottle with eight ounces of water, and spritz it on 10-15 minutes before showering. Don’t use this treatment more than once a day, and if you start getting headaches, you’re using too much shampoo or spritz.
Note: Use each time you shampoo but not more than once a day.

20. Mayo Massage

All you need for this hair growth treatment is mayonnaise! It doesn’t matter what kind. Get your hair damp – just damp, not soaking – with warm water, then basically just rub the mayo into your scalp and down to the ends of your hair. Use as much or as little as you want. Once done, either use a shower cap or some plastic wrap to cover your head – that traps the heat, so the mayo will really get in there and penetrate. Let it set for 20 minutes or so (it’s really up to you), then wash it out with a gentle shampoo, or a shampoo that’s been diluted.
Note: Use every week to nurse dry, over-processed hair back to health, bi-weekly in case of normal hair and not more than once per month in case of oily hair.
I absolutely love the fact that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a really good product that works and, knowing how wonderful all of these ingredients are, I have no doubt afore mentioned hair growth treatments will make a lot of women happy! Are there any awesome hair growth treatments I haven’t mentioned here? Please, do tell!

These Vanilla Ice cubes are made with almond milk, sugar, and vanilla. So not only do they add the flavor of vanilla to your drink, they also add some creaminess and a touch of sweetness. They’re perfect for iced coffee, tea, chai, or even lemonade. Alternately, you can add less sugar to the recipe (or omit it altogether) and use these cubes to chill root beer, cola, and other sodas. And if you’re too impatient to wait for them to melt in your drink, you can eat them like popsicles too. (I know this because I’m very impatient and I’ve had a few of these ice cubes straight from the freezer.)So here are some additional things you should know about Vanilla Ice cubes. First, they don’t always melt all pretty, particularly if your drink is a little bit warm. The vanilla almond milk mixture has a tendency to settle at the bottom of the glass, so give it a little stir. And let the ice melt a little (or a lot!) before you drink–I mean, that’s the whole point of these, right?

Vanilla Ice

Total Time: 5 hours

Yield: About 12 ice cubes

This Vanilla Ice won't wax a chump like a candle, but it will keep your iced coffee cold (and delicious).

Ingredients

2 c. almond milk

1/3 c. granulated sugar

1 vanilla bean

1 tsp. vanilla (optional--add for more intense vanilla flavor)

Instructions

Combine almond milk and sugar in a large saucepan. Slice open vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape insides into saucepan, then place empty vanilla bean into mixture. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking to break up clumps of vanilla. Once mixture has come to a simmer, reduce heat to low and cook 10 minutes more, whisking occasionally.

Allow vanilla mixture to come to room temperature. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl with a spout, then pour mixture into ice cube trays. Freeze until completely solid, 3-4 hours (depending on the temperature of your freezer and size of the cubes). Serve with iced coffee, tea, or other beverages.

Notes

You can use any kind of milk you like in these and I'm sure it will be fabulous. But I've only tested this recipe with almond milk.

you can buy patterns with instructions or you can follow these. either way homemade with love is the best ever.

Here is where a serger sewing maching is great to have …….the double needle made this project worth my time. Seriously, don’t skip out on this needle. It helps things look nice but it also allows for a really great stretch while working with knits……because the back looks like a zig-zag. But then the front looks so nice and clean. As long as your machine can do a zig-zag, a double needle should fit on your machine. And for only a couple of dollars, you will fall in love. Read more about double needles here.

Okay…….the knits I used: It’s a good stretchy knit…..more stretchy than the other 3 but all worked great!

Once you have your fabric picked out, you need to draw out a pattern piece. You only need one pattern piece. The front and back crotch allowance will be the same. Since these pants are stretchy, having the front the same as the back will work just fine. The stretch gives the extra room needed in the bum. And besides, only having one pattern piece makes things so much simpler. Hooray.

Grab a pair of leggings (or boy knit pants) that fit.

Then fold them in half and trace around them. As you’re tracing, add an extra 1 1/4 inch along the top (for the elastic casing), and extra 1/4 inch along the one side, and 3/4 of an inch for the bottom. You won’t need any extra on the other side……because this edge will be placed on the fold of the fabric. No outer side seams on the legs. (And if you’re wanting a wider leg for your girl or boy, just keep it wide.)

Cut out your pattern piece (mark the pattern where the top is so that you don’t confuse it later on) and place the straight edge on the fold of the fabric.

Then, cut it out…….making sure to not cut along the one long edge where the fold is.

Cut another one the same way. Then open them up and they should both look like this. Since these are leggings and the leg part is nice and snug, the top section will look wider than the bottom. This will help you to distinguish between the top and bottom too.

Now, turn one of the pieces over and fold the bottom edge up 3/4 of an inch (or however much extra you cut for your pattern piece). Pin it in place.

(If you look closely, you will see that I serged the bottom edge before folding it up. Turns out, it wasn’t worth my time. It does make it look a little nicer but since knit doesn’t fray it just wasn’t worth it to me. But if you want to finish your bottom edge, do so before folding up the bottom edge.)

Sew right along the bottom edge, matching up the right edge with your 1/2 inch marker. Then you’ll be sure to catch the 3/4 inch that was folded underneath.

**If sewing is stretching your knit fabric too much (common problem with sewing on knit fabric, no worries)…….increase your stitch length so that it jumps over the fabric with bigger stitches. This should help. Practice on some scrap fabric if needed.

See how neat and tidy that is?

And the back? A great little zig-zag-ish seam that will still allow your knit to stretch. Perfect.

Hem the other leg the same way.

Then place the two pieces together, with right sides together. Then sew along the two upper side slopes (1/4 inch seam allowance), still using your double needle.

See that double needle stitch? I also really like that there are 2 seams which means it’s reinforced a but more. Trim off any excess if desired.

Now fold in half the other way, matching up the legs. Sew all the way along the inner legs, while still using the double needle. Trim off excess.

Then fold upper edge down 1 1/4 inches. Pin in place.

I’m sorry I didn’t photograph the next step but turn the pants right side out so that the double stitch is on the right side of the fabric and then sew all the way around the top edge of the pants, matching up the top edge of the pants with the 1 inch mark on your sewing machine as you’re sewing. (If you don’t have a 1 inch mark, put a piece of tape there.) But be sure to leave a 2 inch opening along the back edge of the pants.

Then thread some 3/4 inch elastic (I use the non-roll type) through the casing you just created. Make sure that you cut about an inch extra of the elastic.

Then overlap the elastic 1 inch, then sew into place.

Maneuver the elastic into the casing and sew the opening closed, sewing from the right side of the fabric again.

1. Thread a long needle with black thread; sew the 1⁄2-inch button to the center of the pillow, stitching all the way through and pulling the thread tight, forming the cat’s nose.

2. Sew crystal buttons above nose to make eyes.

3. Thread an embroidery needle with 2 strands of floss. To make whiskers, make a small stitch on one side of nose; tie thread ends together and trim to about 2 inches long. Make several more whiskers on each side of nose in this way

Halloween Countdown

I’ve made it a tradition to make an advent calendar for my favorite holidays and events. I’ve been making custom designed magnetic favor tins with a fun surprise each day inside the tin. Each day there is a different activity, treat, or something special to unveil.
Check out the other countdown’s I’ve put together:

Birthday Countdown – Each day had a treat and something special about the birthday boy or girl

For Halloween, I decided there are enough treats throughout the month and I don’t feel creative enough to come up with 31 activities to do each day, so I decided the surprise in the tin would be a new joke each day. The jokes are totally cheesy and are perfect for kids.

Print the Halloween patterns for the favor tins then cut the numbers into a circle shape using a 2″ circle paper punch. My favorite paper punch is this squeeze punch by Fiskars.
Cover each circle with Modge Podge.
Place into the top of the favor tin so it is attached to the clear plastic.
Let the Modge Podge dry.
While the tops of the tins are drying, tape the jokes to the bottom of the tins.
Once the tops are dry, tape the punchlines to the lids of the tins. When you open the tin, you will see the joke at the bottom of the tin and the punchline will be in the lid.
Glue the magnets onto the tins with E-6000. I’ve tried to glue the magnets with a hot glue and some of the magnets peel off.
With 31 tins, I needed a larger magnetic board than I’ve used with the other countdowns I’ve created. I used math to calculate how large of a board I would need. It turned out that a 10 x 20 frame would work perfect and I happened to have one on hand. Score.
Measure a metal sheet (I picked mine up at Lowe’s in the roofing section) to the appropriate size, then cut with metal cutters.
Place the metal in the frame so the metal is flush with the frame.
Place the tins on the metal frame and…
you are ready to countdown to Halloween!
You’re done!

Download Halloween Countdown

To download this printable, select the button with the arrow pointing down.

Download Halloween Jokes Printable Circles

To download this printable, select the button with the arrow pointing down.

Download Halloween Joke Punch Line Circles

To download this printable, select the button with the arrow pointing down.

About Me

Hello there, Happy Day to you, I am a Mother, Grandmother and I love to Craft and Cook, Bake and I have a beautiful family who together we enjoy many things and I take time to share many things with you. I have taken many classes in cooking, baking and crafting and I have been lucky to be able to teach classes as well and I really enjoy people. I am always learning new things and trying new ideas as well as improving on old ones. Life is a wonderful Journey and I am making my own path, follow me and let me inspire you. Blessings